Chief Master Sgt. Ian D. Stegherr is the State Command Chief Master Sergeant, Virginia Air National Guard, at Joint Force Headquarters, Virginia. He is responsible to the Adjutant General of Virginia and the Air Component Commander for readiness, operational utilization, career progression, professional development, health, morale, and welfare of more than 1,400 Airmen. He represents the commander and the enlisted force on various committees, councils, and boards, as well as advocator for the enlisted force at military and civilian functions.
Chief Stegherr enlisted into the Illinois Air National Guard in August 1994. He completed tactical air command and control apprentice course at Hurlburt Field, Florida, in May 1995. During his almost 15 years with IANG, he served as non-commissioned officer in charge for multiple squadrons. In June 2009, he began his Active Guard and Reserve career at the 138th Combat Training Flight in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he served as the superintendent and joint terminal attack controller instructor. He further led the accreditation of the 138th CTF schoolhouse as a Joint Terminal Attack Controller Qualification Course for the Joint Staff and NATO. The chief transitioned to the Washington National Guard in January 2018 as the 194th Air Support Operations Group superintendent at Camp Murray, Washington. He was responsible for the direction of key programs, funds, manpower, training, readiness, state partnership program, domestic operations, and enlisted development for eight air support operations squadrons, one combat training flight and one conventional army support weather flight. He deployed in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and Joint Enterprise NATO.
Prior to his current position, he served as the National Guard Bureau’s A3/10 senior enlisted leader where he provided leadership for nine divisions within the ANG Operations Directorate. He oversaw organization, training, and equipment for 45 AFSCs across 90 wings and 54 states and territories. He was also the key ANG enlisted operations representative to Headquarters Air Force, the office of the Chief of the NGB, the Director of the ANG’s office, and the major commands.
EDUCATION
1995 Tactical Air Command and Control Apprentice Course, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
1996 Aircrew Survival Course, Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash.
1997 Joint Firepower Command and Control Course, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
1998 Airman Leadership Course, by correspondence
1999 Bachelor of Science, Landscape Architecture, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
2001 Tactical Air Command and Control Craftsman Course, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2006 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, by correspondence
2007 Master of Business and Administration, University of Illinois, Chicago
2010 Army Basic Instructor Course, Fort Sill, Okla.
2011 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, by correspondence
2012 Associate of Applied Science, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2014 Reserve Component National Security Course, Ft. McNair, Washington D.C.
2015 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala.
2015 Defense Support of Civil Authorities, by correspondence
2017 International Leadership Course, Woensdrecht Air Base, Netherlands
2018 Chief Master Sergeants Executive Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2019 Chiefs Leadership Course, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala.
2020 Continuous Process Improvement for Executives, Secretary of Air Force, by correspondence
2022 Defense Support of Civil Authorities II, Ft. Sam Houston, Texas
2023 Strategic Mindset Seminar, JB Andrews, Md.
2023 General and Flag Officer Seminar on Homeland Defense, Harvard University, Boston, Mass.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 1994 – December 2002, Tactical Air Control Party Apprentice/Craftsman, 169th Air Control Party Flight, Peoria Air National Guard Base, Ill.
2. January 2003 – October 2006, Assistant Flight Non-commissioned Officer in Charge, 169th Air Support Operations Squadron, Peoria ANGB, Ill.
3. November 2006 – May 2009, Flight Non-commissioned Officer in Charge, 169th Air Support Operations Squadron, Peoria ANGB, Ill.
4. June 2009 – August 2011, Chief of Scheduling and Joint Fires Observer Instructor, 138th Combat Training Flight, Fort Sill, Okla.
5. August 2011 – December 2017, Superintendent and Joint Terminal Attack Controller Instructor, 138th Combat Training Flight, Fort Sill, Camp Gruber, and Will Rogers ANGB, Okla.
6. January 2018 – April 2021, Superintendent, 194th Air Support Operations Group, Camp Murray, Wash.
7. May 2021 – September 2023, Superintendent, NGB A3/10, Air National Guard Readiness Center, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
8. September 2023 – Present, Commonwealth of Virginia Command Chief, Joint Forces Headquarters, Va.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Commendation Medal with “V” device and two oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2015 Chief Master Sgt. Richard Etchberger Team Award
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Virginia National Guard Enlisted Association
Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States
Air Force Association
Permanent member, Tactical Air Control Party Association
(Current as of September 2023)